Environmental-friendly plug for used oil filter

ABSTRACT

A used oil filter plug has a flat circular disc having an upper surface and a lower surface. A pair of mouse ear projections extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flat circular disc for thumb and forefinger leverage in turning the flat circular disc. A threaded stud extends downwardly from center of the lower surface of the flat circular disc. The threaded stud is sized to thread into an internally threaded central oil passage opening in an endplate of the used oil filter. This causes the lower surface of the flat circular disc to cover a plurality of oil passage openings in the end plate and bear against the rubber gasket seal ring preventing oil leakage therefrom, so that the used oil filter can be safely discarded without adversely affecting the environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oil filter sealing device, and more particularly, a plug for an oil filter. The plug is designed to seal a used oil filter and prevent the leakage of oil therefrom. The plug is easily installed on a used oil filter to assist in preserving the environment. The plug effectively prevents the oil from leaking into landfills once the oil filter has been discarded. The present invention can be used by mechanics, as well as motor vehicle owners that change their own oil. The plug offers consumers a simple way to be environmentally conscious.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Once an oil filter is removed from a motor vehicle, the oil filter is discarded. The oil filter often ends up buried in a landfill, whereby excess oil tends to leak from the used oil filter, which is extremely harmful to the environment. The majority of the oil ends up in the ground and into the water. The oil filter's holes are usually causing the trapped oil to escape. Amore suitable way of plugging the oil filter is needed to prevent harm to the Earth.

Numerous innovations for oil filter covers have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.

A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,703, Issued on Mar. 15, 1983, to Krauss teaches a cover for an oil filter in the form of a cup-shaped body or cover having a central opening for receiving an oil filter, a reservoir space formed between the cover and the oil filter, flexible spacers disposed between the inner surface of the cover and oil filter and a bellows or compressible series of accordion folds in the container surface. The folds urge closure of seals at opposite ends of the cover with their contacting elements. The body or oil filter cover may be constructed of heat resistant, flexible, resilient, transparent or translucent plastic material.

A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,199, Issued on Mar. 26, 1985, to Carlisle teaches an oil filter sealing device adapted to seal and protect the oil circulation apertures and reinforcing plate of an oil filter unit, the sealing device comprising, as a unitary structure: (a) a flat, circular plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; and (b) a frictional attachment means centrally disposed on the lower surface of the flat, circular plate.

A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,896, Issued on Jul. 5, 1988, to Roltgen et al. teaches a disposable leak proof container for an oil filter which includes a cylindrical receptacle having an open top and defining a filter receiving chamber for receiving and holding an oil filter therein, a cap hinged to the receptacle for covering the open top of the receptacle, and a resealable tongue and groove closure for releasably sealing the cap and receptacle in a leak proof manner. The cap, receptacle and closure are preferably formed integral with each other as a one-piece transparent plastics structure.

A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,599, issued on Dec. 30, 1997, to Brown et al. teach a cover for use in blocking the openings in disposable oil filters for protection of the interior surfaces of new disposable oil filters from outside contamination and also for containment of residual oil within used disposable oil filters to prevent leakage of the used oil therefrom. The protective cover has a coverplate and a knob located on the upper surface thereof for attaching and removing the protective cover from a disposable oil filter. The protective cover may also have external threads on the perimeter of the coverplate for mating with internal threads on the disposable oil filter, an externally threaded inner shaft depending from the lower surface of the coverplate, a fixed or free-spinning knob, and studs for additional security in covering the openings located through the outer surface of the disposable oil filter.

A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,215, issued on Apr. 10, 2001, to Berkey et al. teach a flexibly resilient sealing member, incorporating integral pressure relief valves, for use in an oil filter assembly, includes a substantially annular body formed from a flexibly resilient material. The annular body has a central bore formed therein for surrounding an oil filter outlet. The annular body also has an upper surface with a plurality of normally closed slits formed therein, a shoulder portion around its top outer edge for sealing placement inside a cylindrical filter element, and a flow channel formed therethrough for each of the normally closed slits, each of the flow channels extending downwardly from one of the normally closed slits and terminating in an open inlet below the shoulder portion and outside of the central bore. The sealing member according to the present invention may further include an integral pedestal ring attached to the lower surface of the annular body adjacent the annular bore and extending downwardly therefrom, and a transverse flange attached to the outer surface of the annular body below the shoulder portion, and extending outwardly therefrom to limit entry of the sealing member into a filter element. In this embodiment, preferably, each of the flow channels extends from a bottom surface of the annular body above the pedestal ring, through the annular body; and communicates with one of the normally closed slits in the top surface of the annular body. The present invention also encompasses an oil filter assembly incorporating the sealing member thereof.

A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. D453,011, issued on Jan. 22, 2002, to Canady teaches an ornamental design for a oil or fuel filter cap, as shown and described.

A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. D459,284, Issued on Jun. 25, 2002, to Canady teaches an ornamental design for a oil or fuel filter cap with handle, as shown and described.

AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,534, issued on Dec. 6, 2005, to Helms teaches a cover for a disposable oil filter. The cover includes a flexible insert for inserting into the flow hole of the oil filter, a cover plate fitting around the insert for pressing against the oil filter seal, and a fastener for retaining the plate against the filter seal. The insert includes a flexible head which may be pressed through the filter flow hole but which will prevent the insert from pulling back through the flow hole. The fastener is used to clamp the cover plate against the filter seal.

A NINTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2006/0086747, published on Apr. 27, 2006, to Dagn teaches a closure cap, especially for closing a screw neck of an oil filter connection in motor vehicles. An elastically expandable nut element is arranged in the closure cap. The nut element is such that it can be placed on screw necks of various diameters, engaging with the outer thread of the screw neck.

A TENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. D544,424, issued on Jun. 12, 2007, to Bauer teaches an ornamental design for a threadable fuel cap, as shown and described.

AN ELEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2007/0250174, published on Nov. 1, 2007, to Reinosa et al. teach an invention that attaches to the bottom of the used filter in a one-way locked fashion. It can be described as a concave surface, equipped with a plurality of one-way locking barbs, or locking means, that upon a quick insertion, or turning process into the normally provided center threaded channel of a spin-on oil filter, makes positive seal against the normally provided gasket in oil filters, transforming the filter into a sealed container or cylinder. The present invention is also equipped with time-released oil-eating bacteria, or other suitable biological agent, to eventually render the filter residual oil inert to the environment if the filter is still illegally dumped. Therefore, the device prevents the oil filter from leaking shortly after it is removed and substantially hot drained, to facilitate transportation to a suitable recycling or collection center, thereby enabling the recovery and recycling of used oil filters.

A TWELFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2009/0090720, published on Apr. 9, 2009, to Minerva teaches a cap for a disposable oil filter. The cap is comprised of a locking ridge that is molded into the inside circumference of the cap. When firmly pressed over the seamed perimeter rim on the face end of the disposable oil filter, a locking ridge securely engages into the seam line, formed by the manufactures seaming process, thus locking cap on oil filter and forming a liquid tight seal on each side of locking ridge.

It is apparent now that numerous innovations for oil filter covers have been provided in the prior art that are adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a plug for an oil filter that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a plug for an oil filter that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a plug for an oil filter that is simple to use.

BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a plug for an oil filter having a generally cylindrical housing, an end plate with a plurality of oil passage openings extending through the end plate, an internally threaded central oil passage opening in the end plate, and a rubber gasket seal ring affixed about the circumference of the end plate. The plug comprises a flat circular disc having an upper surface and a lower surface. A pair of mouse ear projections extends upwardly from the upper surface of the flat circular disc for thumb and forefinger leverage in turning the flat circular disc. A threaded stud extends downwardly from center of the lower surface of the flat circular disc. The threaded stud is sized to thread into the internally threaded central oil passage opening in the end plate. This causes the lower surface of the flat circular disc to cover the plurality of oil passage openings in the end plate and bear against the rubber gasket seal ring preventing oil leakage therefrom, so that the oil filter can be safely discarded without adversely affecting the environment.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the plug;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the plug;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the plug when the plug is inserted to the used oil filter;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the plug when the plug is in close position, which sealed completely the used oil filter;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the plug ready to be used with any one of a variety of oil filters;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing the plug being screwed onto the oil filter; and

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the plug securely fitted onto the oil filter.

REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

-   110 plug -   112 oil filter -   114 cylindrical housing of oil filter 112 -   116 end plate of oil filter 112 -   118 oil passage opening in end plate 116 -   120 internally threaded central oil passage opening in end plate 116 -   122 rubber gasket seal ring on end plate 116 -   124 flat circular disc of plug 110 -   126 upper surface of flat circular disc 124 -   128 lower surface of flat circular disc 124 -   130 mouse ear projection of plug 110 -   132 threaded stud of plug 110

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, will be discussed with reference thereto.

In FIGS. 1-5: an environmental-friendly plug 110 is for an oil filter 112 having a generally cylindrical housing 114, an end plate 116 with a plurality of oil passage openings 118 extending through the end plate 116, an internally threaded central oil passage opening 120 in the endplate 116, and a rubber gasket seal ring 122 affixed about the circumference of the end plate 116. The radius R₂ of the flat circular disc 124 is in the range of 1 inches to 3 inches.

The environmental-friendly plug 110 comprises a flat circular disc 124 having an upper surface 126 and a lower surface 128. The disc 124 has a thickness of T₁ (2 mm-7 mm). A pair of mouse ear projections 130 extends upwardly from the upper surface 126 of the flat circular disc 124 for thumb and forefinger leverage in turning the flat circular disc 124. The mouse ear projections 130 have a thickness T₂ which is the same thickness as T₁ (2 mm-7 mm). A threaded stud 132 extends downwardly from center of the lower surface 128 of the flat circular disc 124. The threaded stud 132 is sized to thread into the internally threaded central oil passage opening 120 in the end plate 116. The height of the mouse ear projections 130 is equal to the length of the threaded stud 132 (0.3 inch to 0.5 inch). The radius R₂ of the disc is the same or larger than the radius R₁ of the rubber gasket ring 122 but smaller than the radius R₃ of rim of the oil filter (as shown in FIG. 2B). This causes the lower surface 128 of the flat circular disc 124 to cover the plurality of oil passage openings 118 in the endplate 116 and bear against the rubber gasket seal ring 122 preventing oil leakage therefrom, so that the oil filter 112 can be safely discarded without adversely affecting the environment. The location of the center of mouse ear projections 130 is half (0.5) of the radius R₁ of the seal ring 122 (as shown in FIG. 2C). The distance of the two center axis of the two mouse ear projections 130 is exactly the same as the radius R₁ of the seal ring 122 (as shown in FIG. 2C) in order to have the maximum torque to turn the plug with the minimum material needed to the mouse ear projections. The centers of the mouse ear projections 130 are separated by a distance of two radius R₁.

In the environmental-friendly plug 110: the flat circular disc 124, the pair of mouse ear projections 130 and the threaded stud 122 are constructed out of a one-piece molded unit from a single type of durable material. The single type of durable material is plastic or recycled plastic such as recycled milk jug with hardener. The circumference of the flat circular disc 124 approximates the circumference of the rubber gasket seal ring 122 on the end plate 116 of the cylindrical housing 114 of the oil filter 112.

In summary, the environmental-friendly plug 110 ensures that oil does not leak from a used oil filter 112 once the oil filter 112 is removed from the motor engine of a vehicle (e.g. general motor's engine, car, truck, military truck, battle tank, bus, mini-van, ship's engine, airplane's engines . . . etc . . . ). The environmental-friendly plug 110 consists of a flat circular disc 124 that is located just above the rubber gasket seal ring 122 that seals against the motor in the motor vehicle. The disc 124 has a threaded stud 132 on a lower surface 126. The threads on the stud 132 are the same size as the threads on the internally threaded oil passage opening 120 in the oil filter 112. The threaded stud 132 projects from the center of the lower surface 126 of the disc 124. The upper surface 126 of the disc 124 has mouse ear projections 130 for the removal and insertion process of the environmental-friendly plug 110. The plug environmental-friendly 110 can be made of durable material, such as plastic or recycled plastic such as recycled milk jug with hardener. The threaded stud 132 is threaded into the internally threaded central oil passage opening 120 in the old oil filter 112 by screwing it clockwise. No tools are required to install the plug 110. The environmental-friendly plug 110 can be used on a wide variety of oil filters 112, both new and old. The exact specifications may vary.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a plug for an oil filter, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A environmental-friendly plug for capping an oil filter having a generally cylindrical housing, an end plate with a plurality of oil passage openings extending through the end plate, an internally threaded central oil passage opening in the end plate, and a rubber gasket seal ring affixed about the circumference of the end plate, the plug comprising: a) a flat circular disc having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a radius of the disc is the same or larger than a radius of the rubber gasket ring but smaller than the radius of rim of the oil filter; b) a pair of mouse ear projections extending upwardly from the upper surface of the flat circular disc for thumb and forefinger leverage in turning the flat circular disc; and c) a threaded stud extending downwardly from center of the lower surface of the flat circular disc, wherein the threaded stud is sized to thread into the internally threaded central oil passage opening in the end plate, causing the lower surface of the flat circular disc to cover the plurality of oil passage openings in the endplate and bear against the rubber gasket seal ring preventing oil leakage therefrom, so that the oil filter can be safely discarded without adversely affecting the environment.
 2. The plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the flat circular disc, the pair of mouse ear projections and the threaded stud are constructed out of a one-piece molded unit from a single type of durable material.
 3. The plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the location of the center of mouse ear projections is half (0.5) of the radius of the seal ring.
 4. The plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the distance of the two center axis of the two mouse ear projections is exactly the same as the radius of the seal ring in order to have a maximum torque to turn the plug with a minimum material needed to the mouse ear projections.
 5. The plug as recited in claim 2, wherein the single type of durable material is plastic.
 6. The plug as recited in claim 2, wherein the single type of durable material is select from a group consisting of recycled plastic and recycled milk jug's material with hardener.
 7. The plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the circumference of the flat circular disc approximates the circumference of the rubber gasket seal ring on the end plate of the cylindrical housing of the oil filter.
 8. The plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the radius of the flat circular disc is in the range of 1 inches to 3 inches.
 9. The plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the height of the mouse ear projections is equal to the length of the threaded stud.
 10. The plug as recited in claim 9, wherein the height of the mouse ear projections is equal to 0.3 inch to 0.5 inch.
 11. The plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the centers of each mouse ear projections are separated by a distance of two radius of the rubber gasket sealing ring. 